Strawberry plant named ‘BG-4316’

ABSTRACT

This invention relates to a new and distinct variety of strawberry plant named ‘BG-4316’. This new strawberry plant named ‘BG-4316’ is primarily adapted to the growing conditions of the central coast of California, and is primarily characterized by its acute terminal leaflet base, medium to strong anthocyanins on the fruiting truss, orange red fruit color, medium-sized fruit, and calyx is slightly to much larger than the fruit.

Latin name of the genus and species of the plant claimed: Fragaria ananassa.

Variety denomination: ‘BG-4316’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct strawberry variety named ‘BG-4316’. This new variety is a result of a controlled cross made in 2002 in an ongoing breeding program between strawberry variety designated ‘BG-633’ (patented, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 13,320) and strawberry variety designated ‘BG-1445’ (a non-patented selection). Due to the combining of the reciprocal seed lots, it is unknown as to which parent variety is the seed parent and which parent variety is the pollen parent. The variety is botanically known as Fragaria ananassa.

The seedling resulting from the aforementioned cross was selected from a controlled breeding plot in Ventura County, Calif. in the winter of 2004. After its selection, the new variety was asexually propagated by stolons in both San Joaquin County, Calif. and Siskiyou County, Calif. The new variety was extensively tested over the next several years in fruiting fields in Ventura County, Calif. This propagation has demonstrated that the combination of traits disclosed herein as characterizing the new variety are fixed and remain true to type through successive generations of asexual reproduction.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

‘BG-4316’ is primarily adapted to the climate and growing conditions of the central coast of California. The nearby Pacific Ocean provides the needed humidity and moderate temperatures to produce a strong vigorous plant and maintain fruit quality during the winter and spring production months.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be unique characteristics of ‘BG-4316’, which in combination distinguish this strawberry plant as a new and distinct variety:

-   -   1. Acute terminal leaflet base;     -   2. Medium to strong anthocyanins on the fruiting truss;     -   3. Orange red fruit color;     -   4. Medium-sized fruit; and     -   5. Calyx is slightly to much larger than the fruit.

The strawberry variety that is believed to be most closely related to the new variety ‘BG-4316’ is ‘BG-1975’ (patented, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 17,725). In side-by-side comparisons to the similar strawberry variety ‘BG-1975’, ‘BG-4316’ differs by the following combination of characteristics as described in Table 1.

TABLE 1 COMPARISON TO THE SIMILAR VARIETY ‘BG-1975’ Characteristic ‘BG-4316’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 17,725) Marketable yield 1,134 1,080 (gm/plant) Fruit predominant shape Conical Ranges from conical to almost cylindrical Insertion of achenes Level with Ranges from level with to the surface below the surface 50% of plants with ripe Medium Ranges from medium to fruit early Plant size Medium Ranges from medium to large Foliage color Medium green Ranges from medium to light yellow green Petiole pubescence Moderate Heavy Fruiting truss anthocyanin Ranges from Weak intensity medium to strong Expression of hollow Ranges from Moderate center weak to moderate Fruit color Orange red Ranges from orange red to red

For identification, a series of molecular markers have been determined for this new variety.

‘BG-4316’ differs from its parents, ‘BG-633’ and ‘BG-1445’ by the following combination of characteristics as described in Table 2.

TABLE 2 COMPARISON WITH PARENT VARIETIES ‘BG-633’ Characteristic ‘BG-4316’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 13,320) ‘BG-1445’ Marketable yield 1,134 964 692 (gm/plant) Fruit gloss Medium Weak Medium Fruit size Medium Ranges from medium to Large large Plant size Medium Ranges from medium to Medium small

BRIEF DESCRIPTIONS OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying color photographs illustrate the overall appearance of typical specimens of the new strawberry variety ‘BG-4316’, at various stages of development as true as it is reasonably possible with color reproductions of this type. Color in the photographs may differ slightly from the color value cited in the botanical descriptions which accurately describe the color of ‘BG-4316’. The depicted plant and plant parts of the new strawberry variety ‘BG-4316’ are approximately six months old. The photographs were taken in Ventura County, Calif.:

FIG. 1 shows typical fruiting field characteristics of ‘BG-4316’, taken in the month of April 2011;

FIG. 2 shows a close-up view of the typical leaf structure of ‘BG-4316’, taken in the month of April 2011;

FIG. 3 shows typical mature and immature field fruit of ‘BG-4316’, taken in the month of April 2011; and

FIG. 4 shows typical internal and external mature fruit characteristics of ‘BG-4316’, taken in the month of April 2011.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The new variety ‘BG-4316’ has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The characteristics of the new variety ‘BG-4316’ may vary in detail, depending upon variations in environmental factors, including weather (temperature, humidity and light intensity), day length, soil type and location. In addition, the characteristics of any parental variety or comparison variety included in Tables 1-9 of the present invention may vary in detail, depending upon variations in environmental factors, including weather (temperature, humidity and light intensity), day length, soil type and location.

The aforementioned photographs, together with the following description of the new variety ‘BG-4316’, unless otherwise noted, are based on observations taken during the 2011 growing season in Ventura County, Calif. These measurements and ratings were taken from plants of ‘BG-4316’ dug from a high-elevation nursery located in Siskiyou County, Calif. during early October 2010 and planted approximately four to five days later in Ventura County, Calif. The approximate age of the observed plants is six months. Yield observations and fruit quality characteristics are averaged from six years of data collected from the 2006 through 2011 growing seasons. Flower measurements and characteristics are from secondary flowers unless otherwise noted. Fruit characteristics and measurements are from secondary fruit unless otherwise noted.

Color terminology where noted follows The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, London (2007).

The following tables 3-9 describe fruit, plant, stolon, foliage, fruiting truss, flower and pest disease characteristics of the new strawberry ‘BG-4316’ in comparison to the similar strawberry variety ‘BG-1975’.

TABLE 3 FRUIT CHARACTERISTICS ‘BG-1975’ (U.S. Plant Characteristic ‘BG-4316’ Pat. No. 17,725) Color of mature fruit RHS 34A RHS 45A Orange red Ranges from orange red to red Color of internal flesh RHS 34C RHS 44A Light red Medium red Fruit length (cm) 4.3 4.5 Fruit width (cm) 3.8 3.9 Fruit length/width ratio 1.15 1.14 Slightly longer than Slightly longer than broad broad Calyx diameter (cm) 5.5 5.2 Average fruit weight 24.9 26.6 (gm) Achene color, shaded RHS 153D RHS 152D side Yellow green group Yellow green group Achene color, sun- RHS 182A RHS 183A exposed side Greyed purple group Greyed purple group Achenes per berry 331 300 Achene weight (mg) 0.50 0.67 Marketable fruit yield 1,134 1,080 (gm/plant) Fruit size Medium Ranges from medium to large Predominant fruit shape Conical Ranges from conical to almost cylindrical Difference in shapes Slight Ranges from slight to between primary and moderate secondary fruit Band without achenes Absent or very narrow Absent or very narrow Unevenness of fruit Absent or very weak Weak surface Evenness of fruit color Even Ranges from slightly uneven to even Fruit glossiness Medium Ranges from medium to strong Insertion of achenes Level with surface Ranges from below surface to level with surface Insertion of calyx In basin In basin Attitude of calyx Ranges from Spreading collapsing to spreading Size of calyx in relation Ranges from slightly Ranges from slightly to fruit diameter larger to much larger larger to much larger Adherence of calyx Strong Very strong Firmness of fruit skin Ranges from medium Ranges from medium to to strong strong Firmness of fruit flesh Firm Medium Keeping quality Good Good Distribution of red color Marginal and central Marginal and central of the flesh Hollow center expression Ranges from weak to Moderate moderate Fruit flavor Good Very good Soluble solids (% brix) 7.4 8.6 Time of first flowering Ranges from early to Ranges from early to medium medium Time of first harvesting Ranges from early to Ranges from early to medium medium Harvest period Late December to late Early January to late May May Type of bearing Not remontant Not remontant

TABLE 4 PLANT CHARACTERISTICS ‘BG-1975’ Characteristic ‘BG-4316’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 17,725) Plant height (cm) 21.3 23.0 Plant spread (cm) 28.5 26.1 Plant size Medium Ranges from large to medium Plant habit Globose Globose Plant density Medium Medium Plant vigor Ranges from medium to Ranges from medium to strong strong

TABLE 5 STOLON CHARACTERISTICS ‘BG-1975’ Characteristic ‘BG-4316’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 17,725) Stolon color RHS 146C RHS 146D Yellow green group Yellow green group Stolon anthocyanin RHS 184A RHS 182A coloration Greyed red group Greyed red group Stolon anthocyanin Strong Weak intensity Average stolon quantity Ranges from Medium medium to many Stolon diameter at bract 2.8 3.1 (mm) Stolon pubescence Medium Strong Attitude of hairs Upwards Slightly outward

TABLE 6 FOLIAGE CHARACTERISTICS ‘BG-1975’ (U.S. Plant Characteristic ‘BG-4316’ Pat. No. 17,725) Foliage: Color of upper surface RHS 137B RHS 146B Medium green Ranges from light yellow green to medium yellow green Color of underside RHS 147C RHS 147C Yellow green group Yellow green group Shape in cross section Slightly concave to flat Slightly concave to flat Interveinal blistering Ranges from weak to Ranges from weak to medium medium Leaf glossiness Medium Ranges from weak to medium Number of leaflets 3 3 Terminal Leaflet: Length (cm) 7.0 7.0 Width (cm) 5.8 6.2 Length/width ratio 1.22 1.13 Longer than broad Ranges from as long as broad to longer than broad Serrations/leaf 20.0 20.8 Leaf Size Ranges from medium to Ranges from medium to small small Shape of base Acute Acute Shape of teeth Rounded Rounded Petiole: Petiole color RHS 144A RHS 144B Yellow green group Yellow green group Petiole length (cm) 14.3 15.5 Petiole diameter (mm) 3.4 3.7 Petiolule color RHS 144A RHS 144B Yellow green group Yellow green group Petiolule length (mm) 5.8 11.7 Petiole pubescence Moderate Heavy Attitude of hairs Ranges from slightly Strongly outward outward to strongly outward Stipule: Color RHS 146C RHS 146C Yellow green group Yellow green group Anthocyanin coloration RHS 60B RHS 61B Red purple group Red purple group Anthocyanin intensity Ranges from medium to Weak strong Length (mm) 17.8 16.0 Width (mm) 12.7 10.1

TABLE 7 FRUITING TRUSS CHARACTERISTICS ‘BG-1975’ Characteristic ‘BG-4316’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 17,725) Anthocyanin coloration RHS 181C RHS 181C Greyed red group Greyed red group Anthocyanin intensity Ranges from Weak medium to strong Length at maturity (cm) 23.8 28.6 Position relative to foliage Level with the Ranges from level with to foliage above the foliage Pubescence Ranges from Strong weak to medium Attitude at first pick Prostrate Prostrate

TABLE 8 FLOWER CHARACTERISTICS ‘BG-1975’ Characteristic ‘BG-4316’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 17,725) Petal color RHS NN155C RHS NN155C White group White group Sepal color RHS N137A RHS 138A Green group Green group Corolla diameter (mm) 30.2 27.7 Calyx diameter (mm) 38.0 38.8 Petal length (mm) 11.8 10.7 Petal width (mm) 11.8 10.5 Petal length/width ratio 1.0 1.02 Petals/flower 5.8 6.3 Sepal length (mm) 15.7 15.5 Sepal width (mm) 4.5 5.5 Sepal length/width ratio 3.46 2.81 Sepals/flower 11.7 12.6 Size of calyx relative to Larger Larger corolla Size of inner calyx relative Ranges from Ranges from same to to outer calyx same to smaller smaller Relative position of petals Overlapping Overlapping

TABLE 9 PEST AND DISEASE REACTIONS ‘BG-1975’ Characteristic ‘BG-4316’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 17,725) Two-spotted spider mite Moderately Moderately susceptible susceptible Powdery mildew Moderately Moderately susceptible susceptible Botrytis fruit rot Moderately Moderately susceptible susceptible Angular leaf spot Susceptible Susceptible 

1. A new and distinct strawberry plant named ‘BG-4316’, as herein described and illustrated by the characteristics set forth above. 